Give Miami Day returns Nov. 19, helping nonprofits like Roxy Theatre Group expand access to the arts – NBC 6 South Florida

Give Miami Day is returning for its 15th year on Nov. 19, raising millions of dollars for more than a thousand nonprofits across the Miami community.

Among those organizations is Roxy Theatre Group in Kendall, a nonprofit that has been impacting children through the arts for more than 20 years.

Now in its 25th season, Roxy Theatre Group offers dance, musical theater, improv and other classes for children ages 4 to 17, providing a place for young people to explore their creativity and express themselves.

For Executive Director Jorgina Fernandez, the mission is personal.

“When I was young, I took classes, dance classes and everything. But there was always the budget,” Fernandez said. “My parents, you know, a lot of kids, and we came from Cuba. And so… the budget was not there to do that many classes.”

Fernandez said that experience helped inspire her desire to create a nonprofit where children could have access to more opportunities.

“I wanted a place and make it nonprofit so we can get the funds for kids to do more than one class, to do more things, because they really do have all this talent when they’re young to explore and then see what they want to do in the future,” she said.

But Artistic Director Charles Suthers says the impact of arts education can extend well beyond the children who ultimately pursue careers in the arts.

“I really appreciate the fact that not all the kids that are taking these classes are going into the arts,” Suthers said. “We’ve got doctors and lawyers, doctors that are tap dancing, lawyers that can sing. And those kids are professionals, but their professional life is informed by the arts, which is the critical thing.”

I happen to be one of those former Roxy kids.

During my visit, Fernandez and I looked back at my time performing in “Once on This Island” and reflected on the paths students take after leaving the program.

“They’ve come such a far [way], and they found their way, their path, and they’re happy doing what they’re doing now,” Fernandez said. “That’s magnificent. That’s the cherry on top.”

The nonprofit’s impact also extends into the broader South Florida community. Roxy Theatre Group now provides performances and cultural events at the Westchester Cultural Arts Center, helping make the arts accessible to the community.

This Give Miami Day, the organization is highlighting $25 donations in honor of its 25th season.

Suthers said that money can help give a child the chance to discover a new interest.

“$25 goes to allowing… a child who may have an interest in not necessarily becoming a professional, but is curious about dance, is curious about singing or acting, and they can get that opportunity,” he said.

For Fernandez, Give Miami Day is about more than supporting one organization. It’s an opportunity for nonprofits to collectively invest in South Florida.

“This day is great for the whole community,” Fernandez said. “We also give money to other organizations that do similar things to us because it’s not a competition. It’s one city, one community that has to improve, that has to be able to offer more arts and more opportunities for the children.”

“It’s not just about us, it’s about all of us,” she added.